Tag Archives: Parfaits

Strawberry Quinoa Salad with Roasted Vinagrette

Who doesn’t love a delicious strawberry salad? This Strawberry Quinoa Salad with Roasted Vinagrette will satisfy your cravings. Knowing that California strawberries are low in sugar and calories – only 45 calories per serving! – enjoying this salad is even sweeter. Not to mention, it’s a super easy way to eat a serving of 8 strawberries.

Eating one serving of 8 strawberries a day has many suprising health benefits! For example, eating 8 medium strawberries provides 110 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C, and 5 percent of the recommended daily intake of potassium. Talk about some great health benefits in a tiny package!

Heat oven to 400 degrees.. In a medium-sized bowl, add the strawberries, coconut sugar and thyme. Mix and let it sit for about 5 minutes to allowsome of the natural juices to be released.

Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with canola oil. Add the strawberry mixture and roast for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 1 minute.

In a food processor, add the strawberry mixture. Make sure to get any excess juices left over from the baking sheet. Add the mustard, salt, vinegar and oil. Puree until it reaches a smooth consistency.

Roasted Strawberries and Clotted Cream Ice Cream

Roasted Strawberries and Clotted Cream Ice Cream are a great pair for dessert on any occasion!

Simply hearing the words “strawberries and cream” brings me tremendous joy. There’s something so perfect and decadent about the combination, whether it’s a bowl of fresh strawberries and freshly whipped cream, a classic strawberry shortcake, or a more elegant dessert. When I recently came upon clotted cream at the grocery store, I immediately knew I wanted to pair it with strawberries. In case you’re unfamiliar, clotted cream is a thick, spreadable cream with a high fat content. It’s a UK product, but I’ve been finding it more frequently in the states, and I love throwing it into desserts for some added luxury. If you can’t get your hands on clotted cream, fear not. Mascarpone cheese can be substituted in this recipe as well. It’s thicker, but the flavor is similar and it will yield very similar results. Creme fraiche would also work.

Roasting strawberries is a wonderful way to enhance their flavors. The recipe will still work if you simply puree the berries without roasting them first, but I highly recommend taking this extra step. Also, since the base needs to be very cold before it goes into the ice cream maker, I like dividing this recipe into two parts when I manage to plan in advance. Basically, I follow steps 1-5 the day before I plan to serve the ice cream, and let it chill overnight in the refrigerator. It’s ready to go in the morning! (Note: I recommend doing this with all ice cream recipes when possible).

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the strawberries in a large bowl, and toss with ¼ cup of the sugar to coat evenly. Spread on the prepared baking sheet and roast for 15-20 minutes, stirring and gently flipping the strawberries every 5 minutes. Allow to cool briefly, then transfer the berries and roasting liquid back into the same bowl. Use an immersion blender to puree (a regular blender or food processor will also work).

In a large bowl, vigorously whisk together the egg yolks and remaining sugar.

Place the half-and-half, clotted cream and vanilla in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Gently stir the mixture a few times as it heats up to help the clotted cream melt into the other ingredients.

Once the cream is just simmering, turn the heat to low. Briefly re-whisk the yolks, then ladle in the cream while whisking. Carefully pour the mixture back into the saucepan, using a spatula to scrape everything out of the bowl. Over low heat, stir the mixture for several minutes until it thickens slightly and coats the back of the spatula. Stir in the pureed strawberry mixture, along with the orange liqueur, if using. (Note: adding some alcohol to ice cream improves its texture).

Pour the ice cream base into a clean container (I like to use a quart-sized liquid measuring cup), and press plastic film directly against the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Place in the refrigerator and chill until very cold.

Prepare in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer's instructions.

Summer comes and goes, but my internal food alarm seems to be ringing off the hook for summer food and flavors year-round. At the top of my list are juicy California strawberries and steak. Wouldn’t it be great to have a way to enjoy them together in a recipe? Good news: I’ve created a salad recipe that brings them together in new way, a Roasted Balsamic Strawberry & Peppered Steak Salad.

I love pairing bold-flavored foods, like steak, with fresh and light ingredients like strawberries to create surprising combinations. Plus, layering a lean steak on top of a mound of nutrient rich ingredients is a balanced way to enjoy it any day of year.

Instead of using fresh strawberries in this steak, I enhanced the strawberries by slow roasting them. This turns them into a naturally-sweet chutney/dressing on top of this flavor-explosion of a salad. If you’ve never roasted strawberries before then today is the day and this recipe is the place to start.

While the prep time looks lengthy in the recipe below, it’s mostly hands-off cook time. You can even prep many of the cooked ingredients ahead of time and reheat right before serving. Truly, this salad is easy to put together but is a show-stopper for looks and flavor. I hope you will give it a try at your first summer gathering or at your dinner table this week.

Then, heat a heavy skillet (cast iron if you have it) over medium high heat. Season fillets with pepper and salt. When skillet is hot, add vegetable oil, then cook fillets to medium doneness, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from pan and set aside on a cutting board to rest. After about 5 minutes (more time is OK), thinly slice steak against the grain.

Reduce the skillet heat to medium and add green beans. Add 2 tablespoons of water and cook till evaporated or green beans are crisp tender, about 4 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.

When strawberries are done baking, assemble salad. Layer a large platter with the spring mix greens, then spoon cooked quinoa on top. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, about 1 tablespoon. Layer green beans on top of quinoa. Place steak slices on top of salad then spoon cooked strawberries and juice on top. Lastly, arrange sesame seeds, mozzarella pearls, and basil all around salad to your preference. If desired, sprinkle a small amount of fresh, ground black pepper on top.

When it comes to power food combos, nothing beats strawberries and chocolate. Although dipping strawberries in melted chocolate is a delicious (and foolproof!) way to enjoy this food pairing, I thought it’d be fun to create a recipe that incorporated a few other foods that my kids and I enjoy eating, like pudding, graham crackers, and yogurt. So Chocolate Strawberry Crunch Parfaits were a great option!

Since I’m not a great baker and I don’t have time to craft intricate recipes, I decided to keep it simple and just add a bunch of juicy, seasonal and nutrient-rich California strawberries into a beautiful parfait. Like the character, Donkey, from the movie Shrek said, “You know what everybody likes? Parfaits. Parfaits are delicious!” I agree! Not only are parfaits delicious, they are simple to make and look beautiful when served in clear glasses.

In my Chocolate Pudding Crunch Parfaits, I took sugar free instant chocolate pudding mix, added milk, creamy and protein-rich Greek yogurt, and a bit of whipped topping, then folded in a bowl of diced strawberries. I took this rich pudding mix and layered it over crumbles of chocolate graham crackers and sliced, sweet strawberries. How can this dessert get any better? Shavings of dark chocolate over the whole thing, that’s how!

If you’re wondering how this recipe is healthy, you can rest easy knowing that in each parfait, you’re not only getting a dose of bone-building calcium from milk and yogurt in the pudding, you’re also getting at least one serving of fruit. That’s right! Between the diced strawberries in the pudding and the sliced ones between the crunchy grahams and creamy pudding, you are getting your #8aDay of strawberries. Here are three health highlights about this sweet superfood:

A 2012 study published in the Annals of Neurology suggests that eating strawberries more than twice a week appears to delay cognitive aging by up to 2.5 years.

The American Diabetes Association identifies berries, including strawberries, as one of their Top 10 Diabetes Superfoods because they have a low glycemic index and because they are packed with cancer fighting antioxidants and dietary fiber.

Have the kids help you assemble these Chocolate Pudding Crunch Parfaits for a special dessert or impress your friends at your next gathering by serving them in pretty, stemless wine glasses. Whatever the occasion (or the excuse!), enjoy!

Whisk first 2 ingredients in a large bowl until blended and smooth. Fold in yogurt and whipped topping. Chill in refrigerator for about 10 minutes or until firm. Gently fold strawberries into pudding mix. Set aside.

Spoon about 1 tablespoon graham cracker crumbles into each glass. Top crumbles with a layer of sliced strawberries, then add about ¼ cup of pudding. Repeat layers.

Top the second layer of pudding with a dollop of whipped topping, a single strawberry and chocolate shavings.

A Strawberry Breakfast Parfait Recipe that is both nutritious and tasty! A quick mix-up for a healthy morning fix that satisfies your taste buds while giving you a strong start to your day. You can take this to-go for breakfast wherever you’re heading or you can make this a great option for on-the-go snacking later in the day. Lightweight but filling, the granola and yogurt build the perfect base for an afternoon strawberry delight.

With fresh California Strawberries, this snack is great for whatever your strawberry-craving heart desires!

If you’re on the run often, keep the ingredients around for an easy option without compromising your nutritional value when snacking. Don’t let the every-day rush keep you from getting the nutritional support that will keep you fueled throughout your day! Strawberries are a nutritional powerhouse – they’re considered functional food for their great benefits in health promoting and assistance in chronic disease management. You’ll be enjoying a lovely meal but you’ll also be sneaking in some extra health benefits in the shape of a really good strawberry surprise.

All it takes is 8 strawberries a day to enjoy the health benefits that they provide. You’re just one delicious cup of strawberries away from adding a nutritious supplement to your daily snacking. Sometimes a little change can make a big difference! Adding a few strawberries is the best way.

Break the breakfast blues with this easy, and delicious, Strawberry and Cinnamon Bowl recipe from Robin Plotkin of Robin’s Bite! PLUS, a $100 Target giveaway below.

I’m fairly old school when it comes to recipes….I’ve got 4 key indicators of a good recipe:

the final product has to taste good -yes, this is my #1

the ingredients have to provide nutritional benefits to me and my family

the ingredients must be simple to find and the directions easy to follow

easy clean up

This recipe has all of that and more.

All I can say is I wish my blog had taste-o-vision. This recipe is a go-to for my son and me for breakfast and snacks. The added cinnamon gives the yogurt a depth of flavor that’s a surprise to many.

The main ingredients are packed with health. The strawberries are naturally sweet, but low in sugar (only 7 grams per cup) and provide the perfect combo of essential nutrients, dietary fiber and health-promoting phytochemicals. In fact, there’s only 45 calories in 8 strawberries-it’s safe to say I consumed about 8 while making this recipe. Yes, the honey adds sugar, but you can decide how much or how little you’d like to add, if any.

I had all of the ingredients in my house! If I didn’t, I could find them easily at the grocery store and could purchase them at a reasonable cost.